Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us

(Executive Council)
September 3, 1997

NOTE TO EDITORS

In light of the clear and strong decision of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador last night to move away from a denominationally based system, Premier Tobin said he had written to the Church leaders to ask them to allow the people of the province to elect School Board members without reference to any religious affiliation in the School Board elections to be conducted on September 30. Some media reports today have incorrectly indicated that the Churches do not have the right to allow the election of School Board members at large.

Section 53 of the Schools Act, 1996 and the current Term 17 allow the choice for election of school board members on a denominational OR at large basis. The applicable legal texts follow:

Schools Act, 1996

Section 53(a)

2/3 of the trustees shall be representatives of the classes of persons having rights under Term 17, if the classes so desire, and the number of each class so desiring to be elected shall be proportionate to the population of that class in the area under the board's jurisdiction; and

(b) 1/3 of the trustees shall be elected without reference to a religious denomination.

Term 17

Section (e)

if the classes of persons having rights under this Term so desire, they shall have the right to elect in total not less than two thirds of the members of a school board, and any class so desiring shall have the right to elect the portion of that total that is proportionate to the population of that class in the area under the board's jurisdiction.

 

Contact: Heidi Bonnell, 729-3564